“Doors to manual”
and the flight finally
lands.
We burst from the plane
like a can of cola
unzipped. At last!
All night long
in that shaken tube,
that intimate kaleidoscope
of strangers – but now
it’s Passports, Baggage
and escape.
There’s barely time
to drop the cases
before a child
has flown like a bird
to perch in your arms
by your cheek.
© John Looker 2015
This is a new poem and not included in my book, The Human Hive, which was published recently by Bennison Books. For a description of the book, and links to the listing and comments on Amazon, please see the publisher’s website:
http://bennisonbooks.com/2015/01/27/out-now-the-human-hive/
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Delightful!
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By: Bart Wolffe on 12 March, 2015
at 12:08
Superb
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By: derrickjknight on 12 March, 2015
at 12:33
Shared on Facebook 🙂
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By: Bennison Books on 12 March, 2015
at 12:44
As always, John,,, your imagery cuts keenly to the chase, so that we are in your movie actually seeing and feeling what happens. I enjoy the telescoping effect of variable line length in this poem, and the jiggling, intimate kaleidoscope of strangers is an image I’m unlikely to forget….perfect!
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By: Cynthia Jobin on 12 March, 2015
at 13:51
That’s very helpful feedback, Cynthia. Thank you.
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By: John Looker on 12 March, 2015
at 18:04
a small grandchild .. they’re the only ones who like your whiskers, you took me there John, thanks.
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By: petebowes on 13 March, 2015
at 02:02
Thanks Pete. You’re spot on!
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By: John Looker on 13 March, 2015
at 08:27
Returned to read this again, John, and am suddenly struck by how perfect a conceit it is …for another, more universal, kind of “arrival”.
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By: Cynthia Jobin on 13 March, 2015
at 14:09
I hadn’t noticed that, Cynthia, but I see what you mean. I like the way a poem can reverberate more than was expected by the person who struck the bell.
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By: John Looker on 13 March, 2015
at 15:08
sweet! I love that sense of homecoming you’ve imparted, John 🙂
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By: ebbtide on 13 March, 2015
at 19:15
Thank you Sarah!
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By: John Looker on 13 March, 2015
at 19:39
A wonderful return 🙂 For your next anthology!
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By: Ina on 14 March, 2015
at 10:02
Thank you Ina. We’ll see!
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By: John Looker on 14 March, 2015
at 18:13
Oh! Yes. Delightful. “the intimate kaleidoscope of strangers”. “a child flown like a bird to perch in your arms by your cheek”. Vivid. Happy.
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By: wrensong on 14 March, 2015
at 18:26
Thank you — that’s nice to hear!
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By: John Looker on 14 March, 2015
at 19:04
A delightful ending. I enjoyed reading this, John, as I do your other poems in, “The Human Hive.”
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By: annajanemark on 21 March, 2015
at 02:40
Thank you Anna – I’m particularly pleased that you are enjoying your copy of The Human Hive.
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By: John Looker on 21 March, 2015
at 10:12
This is wonderful, John. The reason it is wonderful is the last four lines, which suddenly take us from being a passenger in an airplane to a child flying like a bird into the passenger’s arms, validating who the passenger is outside of the
“intimate kaleidoscope
of strangers”.
What a magnificent line.
There should not be any surprise with the last four lines. That’s what happens at airports. We’ve all seen it, but somehow the poem dances with the same delight the parent feels as his child flings into his arms.
Excellent work.
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By: Thomas Davis on 3 May, 2015
at 20:05
Very many thanks Thomas. Yes there are two kinds of flight here and two moments of arrival. I hadn’t seen that validation of identity that you speak of, but I do now, and you’re right: it goes to the root of things in modern life. Thank you for drawing this out.
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By: John Looker on 3 May, 2015
at 21:44
Great imagery, and I love those last 4 lines! Made me smile.
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By: Betty Hayes Albright on 28 May, 2015
at 20:45
It’s lovely to hear that Betty, thank you!
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By: John Looker on 29 May, 2015
at 06:45
Beautifully penned, John. With a superb use of imagery.
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By: indianverse on 24 July, 2015
at 07:37